LITTLE ARMENIA—Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region-endorsed Adrin Nazarian handily won his race to represent the 46 California State Assembly district, becoming the newest Armenian-American to hold a seat in the state legislature.

Assemblymember-Elect Adrin Nazarian at his victory celebration with Avo Ovayan and Levon Baronian of ANCA-SFV East

ANCA-WR-endorsed candidate Greg Krikorian, on the other hand, was unable to clench to victory in his bid for a seat in the State Assembly representing the 43rd district.

According to results posted on the California Secretary of State’s Web site, Nazarian received 70.6 percent (67,464) of the votes to his challenger Republican Jay L. Stern’s 29.4 percent (28,054). In the 43rd district race, incumbent Democrat Mike Gatto received 60.5 percent (72,797) of the votes to Krikorian’s 39.5 percent (47,615).

The highlight of the 2012 campaign in California was the vast number of Armenian-Americans who registered to vote as a result of the Armenian National Committee of America’s Hye Votes campaign, which mobilized hundreds of volunteers and registered thousands of voters across the state, with a specific concentration in Los Angeles County.

The race for the 43rd district was not without its hurdles and obstacles, as proponents of Assemblyman Gatto resorted to eleventh-hour underhanded tactics of deceptive phone calls to voters, as well as voter and poll worker intimidation on Election Day. (Asbarez will expand on these revelations in later editions).

Assemblyman Katcho Achadjian (R-35)

Holding on to his seat in the California State Assembly’s 35th district, ANCA-WR-endorsed incumbent Republican Katcho Achadjian handily won the election with 61.4 percent (80,596) of the votes to his opponent Democrat Gerald “Gerry” Manata’s 38.6 percent (50,660).

Another heated race in this election year was the contest between representatives Howard Berman and Brad Sherman, longtime supporters of Armenian-American issues in Congress, who were forced to run against each other due to redistricting and changes to California’s Election Code.

The campaign that at points became ugly and physical at the end saw a victory for Rep. Sherman who garnered 60.5 percent of the votes (109,311) to Berman’s 39.5 percent (71,420).

The ANCA had not endorsed either candidate and in a pre-election statement said: “The ANCA values and profoundly appreciates the contributions of both of these legislators, and regrets that California’s re-districting process has put our community in a situation in which only one of these two longstanding friends will be returning to the U.S. House next January.” Both Reps. Sherman and Berman have A+ ratings from the ANCA.

Long-time ally of the Armenian-American community Democrat Rep. Adam Schiff was re-elected to another term in Congress, this time representing the newly-draw 28th Congressional district, which includes Glendale, Burbank, La Crescenta and Little Armenia among its areas. Congressional Armenian-American Caucus Co-chairman Republican Ed Royce also was re-elected for another term representing California’s 39th Congressional district. Senator Dianne Feinstein won her bid for another term.

In the California State Senate race, ANCA-WR-endorsed Democratic incumbent Carol Liu handily won (60.3 percent of the votes) the race against her Republican opponent Gilbert V. Gonzales in the 25th Senate District. In the race for the 27th Senate District, ANCA-WR-endorsed candidate Democrat Fran Pavley also won her race with 52.6 percent of the votes against her Republican challenger Todd Zink.

ANCA-WR-endorsed candidate for the Los Angeles County District Attorney Alan Jackson was defeated by opponent Jackie Lacey, who became the first female and African-American LA District Attorney.

The ANCA-WR-endorsed California state Proposition 30, which ensures much-needed funding for public schools, state universities and colleges, as well as public safety through limited tax increases, also won. ANCA-WR leaders expressed the organization’s support for the measure during a press conference on October 30 with Governor Jerry Brown.

Asbarez will have more results and analysis on the 2012 elections in coming days.

Below are all the candidates endorsed by ANCA-WR for statewide races and the results of the vote:

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